“We’re going ahead full speed. We anticipate having a USL team. That will serve our academy players who were moving up to the major league roster. It will serve our players who are not playing on a regular basis for the first team as well,” Arena told Tutino. “We’re going to have obviously other players involved in the [USL] roster. Between the first team, which is now 30 to 29 players in MLS, and [the USL] roster we’ll likely have another 15 players who are involved in the USL and complemented by our roster. We should have 45 players here on a daily basis, two teams and a number of opportunities to give players game experience and to continue to move forward.

“We’re hopeful that we can discover a couple of players through the USL team but also develop our academy players that need playing time,” Arena continued. “You’re going to see players like Oscar Sorto, Jack McBean, Raul Mendiola, perhaps, Jose Villarreal; all those young players that if they’re not playing on a regular basis with us, they will be playing with the USL team.”

CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy forward Robbie Keane underwent surgery in London on Wednesday to repair nagging injuries in both of his Achilles.

According to a Galaxy spokesman, the surgery was a success and the LA captain is expected be ready to go by the preseason. Keane is expected to complete his rehabilitation in Ireland before returning to Southern California in January.

During a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, Keane revealed that once the procedure takes place, he’ll be focusing solely on returning to fitness in time for the start of preseason.

“I'll get that done, and then it’s rest and a lot of rehab, so that's mainly what I'll be doing [this offseason],” said Keane.

Three members of the LA Galaxy have been nominated for the first annual CONCACAF year-end awards.

Landon Donovan has been nominated for Player of the Year for his stellar 2013 that saw him take home the Golden Ball (tournament's MVP) and the Golden Boot (tournament's top scorer) at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup in addition to a 10 goal and nine assist performance for the Galaxy. LA goalkeeper Jaime Penedo is nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year after a stellar 2013 that saw him lead the Panamanian national team to the final of the Gold Cup while winning the Golden Gloves award for the tournament's best goalkeeper. Penedo also led Panama to within minutes of qualifying for a berth in a World Cup playoff.

Finally, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena has been nominated for Coach of the Year.

CARSON, Calif. – Count LA Galaxy center back Omar Gonzalez as one of the MLS-based U.S. National Team players unlikely to head on an offseason loan this winter.

U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has stated that he’d like his MLS-based players to head on loan this January as the nation prepares for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but while Gonzalez admitted that he is “pretty much open to anything” at the moment, he is expecting to take a breather for the next few weeks before he begins preparation for the U.S.’ annual January camp.

“I'm still dealing with a little pain from my groin,” Gonzalez admitted during a conference call with reporters on Tuesday. “I just recently got done with the [U.S. national team's final 2013] games, and so right now I'm just relaxing, trying to let this groin heal up, and when it gets closer to January, got to start getting fit and whether I'm here in California with the national team for January camp or something else comes along, we'll figure that out. But as of right now, I'm just planning on the January camp.”

The groin injury that Gonzalez mentioned has plagued him since the 2012 MLS Cup and flared up at times during the Galaxy’s 2013 campaign. Gonzalez has experience with offseason loans after going on loan in January 2012 with German Bundesliga club FC Nurnberg where he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his first training session with the team.

That experience did not sour Gonzalez to the prospect of an offseason loan, but for now, he’s simply waiting to see what types of offers emerge.

“Once it gets closer to January, once these club teams start actually asking about certain players, and whether or not these opportunities are real,” said Gonzalez. “As of right now, my plan is just to go to January camp. At the end of the day, it's also the Galaxy and the league's decision whether they want me to go, as well.”

LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan made his debut as a television analyst this week with appearances on Fox Sports 1.

Donovan looked extremely polished and confidence on air as he analyzed Tuesday's UEFA Champions League slate. One moment received a lot of attention as Donovan was asked about his U.S. National Team teammate Jermaine Jones' Schalke and their match against Steaua Bucuresti, which ultimately ended in a scoreless draw.

CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy announced their annual team awards on Tuesday with Robbie Keane taking home team MVP honors.

Keane enjoyed an MLS MVP-type season with 16 goals and 11 assists in 23 games played earning the team MVP and team Golden Boot. Meanwhile, Omar Gonzalez earned the club defender of the year award after a strong season that saw him finish fourth for the league honor.

Galaxy defender Sean Franklin won the club’s Humanitarian of the Year award for his work with the community.

LA Galaxy center back Omar Gonzalez finished third in MLS Defender of the Year voting as New England Revolution defender Jose Goncalves took home the award.

Gonzalez earned 18.37 percent of the club vote, 7.79 percent of the media vote and 15.07 percent of the player vote for a weighted total of 41.23. Coming in second was Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler with New York Red Bulls center back Jamison Olave coming in fourth.

The award for the league's top defender wasn't the only awards issued on Tuesday as Hilario Grajeda was voted Referee of the Year and Kermit Quisenberry was voted the Assistant Referee of the Year.